David Lichter

About

David Lichter is the current Executive Director of the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC) since being appointed in 2007. He also recently served for three years as chair of the Steering Committee of the Spiritual Care Collaborative, a coalition of six professional associations that developed for professional chaplains common standards for certification and a professional code of ethics. With the NACC, along with his overall leadership, David provides to members and other spiritual care leaders education and retreat programs on spirituality of leadership, chaplaincy and Church, workplace spirituality, respecting religious diversity at end of life, and the profession of chaplaincy. He has also provided reflection and planning days for mission and pastoral care leaders within Catholic health systems. David works closely with the Catholic Health Association (CHA) Pastoral Care Advisory Committee on advancing the field of spiritual care with Catholic health care systems. He has published articles in CHA Health Progress and Reflective Practice: Formation and Supervision in Ministry.

Prior to NACC he worked for a national consulting firm that provided resource and organizational development services to mission-based organizations, where he served in diverse roles, including Chief Operating Officer, Chief Service Officer and Senior Consultant. His consulting practice included strategic planning facilitation, organizational assessments, board development, and executive search.

David devoted over twenty-one years to ministerial leadership formation in theological and ministerial settings both in Milwaukee and in Rome Italy. He has taught courses in spirituality, leadership in ministry, spiritual direction, and other related areas. He earned his S.T.B. and S.T.L. from Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, and his Doctor of Ministry from University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, IL. He and his wife, Jackie, live in Muskego, Wisconsin, and are proud parents of three children and grandparents of seven. 

As an adjunct faculty member of Loyola University Chicago Institute of Pastoral Studies, he has taught courses: Foundations of Christian Spirituality, Theologies of Suffering, Spiritual Paths of World Religions, and Foundations of Pastoral Care.

Quotes from Students:

David is an exceptional professor. I value his background, insight, and knowledge. He has a keen sensitivity toward honoring people for their work and setting high expectations for the work. His understanding of the topic and all areas of theology and spirituality are a gift to students. I am most grateful for taking this class from David.

David Lichter is a lovely, compassionate person. He cared about every student, and whether they were understanding the course materials.

I am full of admiration for David Lichter who have led this course both as a teacher and as a person.

David is a wonderful professor. He takes time to make sure that students understand the coursework.

David is a great teacher. I enjoyed having him as an instructor, and I highly recommend his class to anyone who is interested in helping those who are suffering. David taught the class with great empathy and compassion for others.

David Lichter is a wonderful teacher. I had him for a previous class so I was excited to have him again. He is intelligent, expresses himself well, invites the opinions of his students and helps them to answer their own questions.

Dr. Lichter has an appreciation and respect for diversity of thought and experience in spirituality. He was passionate, available, open to new ways of thinking about the subject matter and genuinely interested in what his students had to say. I enjoyed having him for an instructor.